Workers of a factory in Myanmar have accused supervisors of locking them inside to prevent them from attending anti-coup d’état protests.
As many as 1000 GY Sen garment-makers were unable to break free from their workshops for several hours on 18 February. The company which supply Primark have denied the allegations, constituting just a small part of the story of suffering in Myanmar this year.
Protests in Myanmar have been ongoing since 1 February, when the military overthrew the first democratically elected government for suspected election fraud. The National League for Democracy Party, headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, won the general election by a landslide in November 2020. Military boss Min Aung Hlaing however, declared a state of emergency, detaining senior party members and restricting phone and mobile internet services in Yangon.
Protesters from all backgrounds have persevered since the beginning of the coup, but to the concern of human rights campaigners and leaders around the globe, police have reacted with brutality. Teargas, rubber bullets, stun grenades, and live rounds of ammunition have all been reportedly fired at groups. In self-defence, crowds have been armed with makeshift shields and hard hats.
The consequent death toll is believed to have exceeded 70. Last week, human rights investigator, Thomas Andrews, told the UN that over half of these casualties were younger than 25. Additionally, he stated that so far over 2,000 have been detained illegally.
Due to the scale of the protests, many industries have been interrupted. Teachers and childcare workers particularly made headlines when they joined the movement, claiming the protection of children’s freedom was crucial for their own development and future.
In an already strained financial time for the Myanmar industry, efficiency and manpower appear to be crucial. According to claims, 20 workers were fired by GY Sen for missing shifts to protest.
The garment sector was responsible for bringing in 30% of exports in 2019, according to the UN and EU. However, the pandemic sparked the closure of hundreds of garment factories last year, when power clients like H&M were forced to cancel orders due to restrictions in store. This contributed to the overall 50% loss in Myanmar’s income.
Even before the coup, financial tensions were high. Garment workers were forced to work excessive overtime at a rate of just 1,200 kyat, or 60p an hour. Witness accounts say that if they did not comply, they were threatened with dismissal. For some, this previous treatment is just another reason for the protest.
Many garment workers however, have refused to concede such economically-driven demands. Their focus has been on the future of Myanmar’s freedom and rights rather than their financial situation. The proportionally young workers in the garment industry have few alternative sources of income so are making a great sacrifice.
But even for those still employed and working, the situation is far from okay. The military closed banks and imposed new daily withdrawal limits to account for cash shortages, leading to people lining the streets desperately trying to access as much of their savings as possible.
Primark has released a statement and has begun to investigate the lock-in allegations on 5 March. They stressed their desire to support the workers within their supply chain. If the factory is found to have breached codes of conduct, spokespeople assure they will work together to “remediate any issues”.
Faye Minton
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